The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has released a map of areas of Chapman State Park that will be off-limits during construction. The drawdown of the lake starts Tuesday, Sept. 5.

Portions of Chapman State Park will be off-limits starting next week with the beginning of the lake drawdown.

“Visitors will see that they will not be permitted to access the lake and areas that are the responsibility of the contractor,” Park Manager Tyson Martin said in a Monday release.

“This will include no hunting, fishing, mooring, or any lake/beach access for the duration of the project.”

There will be fencing and signage in place to indicate areas under the control of the contractor, according to the release.

According to park officials, there are no changes to hunting and fishing regulations outside of the construction zone. If hunting and fishing are typically allowed in those areas, it will be permitted during construction.

Officials will begin the complete drawdown of the 68-acre lake at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 5. The water level will decline gradually, allowing for construction on the spillway and control tower, as well as dredging of the lake bottom. There is also a fish habitat improvement project that is part of the work.

“We realize the drawdown is an inconvenience to hunters, anglers, boaters, swimmers, and other visitors, but the integrity of the dam and safety of our park visitors is of the utmost importance to us,” Martin said. “We believe it is a short-term inconvenience for a long-term improvement. Safety, fish habitat, depth, and function all will improve.”

The project is expected to be complete by December 2018.

“Work will bring the dam into compliance with guidelines established for safe operation and maintenance of dams by state Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Dam Safety,” Martin said. “Presently, the spillway fails to meet requirements of a Probable Maximum Flood — one that could result from the most severe combination of rainfall and hydrologic conditions for the area. To remedy the situation, the dam embankment will be armored with concrete, enabling water to safely overtop it during an extreme flood event.”